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“There is nothing in the caterpillar that lets you know it’s going to be a butterfly.” ~ Unknown. Homeschooling transformed my caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly.
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In autumn of 2009, I made a decision to homeschool my son. I had always considered the possibility of homeschooling but I was not certain it was an endeavor that I could undertake. Yet, I embarked on this path, if only temporary.
Over the years, I have watched overwhelmed and frustrated families experience endless battles and disappointments with the traditional school system and think, “There is another way…”. In the continuous battle with school districts, lawyers pockets are getting fat, families are increasingly frustrated, and school districts become masters at digging in their heels. Meanwhile, our children are falling through the cracks.
A natural change agent, I tired quickly of banging my head against the proverbial brick wall as I watched my son’s educational and therapeutic needs go unmet. Frustration mounted and I believed that if I left my son’s educational path for others to chart, my son would certainly be the Child Left Behind.
Homeschooling may not be an option for every family, but if you are considering this option..I say go for it. When we embarked on the homeschooling journey, our son was on the high functioning side of the autistic spectrum. Halfway through the experience, a re-evaluation revealed that he no longer met the criteria. The flexibility to teach my child the way he learns allowed him to blossom.
Curriculum Choices
We opted to use Calvert Curriculum as our primary educational guide. We supplemented as needed with the plethora of resources available on the internet library system. Calvert was advantageous for us as it offered an advisory teaching service to answer any questions, something that I felt I needed as a security. Calvert is accredited by Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges, which provides a transcript should you decide to enter into public or private schools in the future. There are an abundance of curriculum options available on the internet. Search to find the one the best meets your child’s needs.
NJ State Law on Homeschooling states, “Parents may seek information about the school curriculum from the local board of education. If the parent/guardian requests such information, the board must provide it since a district’s curriculum is a matter of public record in accordance with N.J.S.A. 47:1A et seq. The parent/guardian may be charged for the cost of copying documents in accordance with the rates established by law, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(b).” This option may prove to be an affordable solution for some families.
However, it is up to the individual Board of Education to make determinations on the provision of curriculum as follows:
What Can Your District Provide?
NJ State
Law on Homeschooling states, “Parents may seek information about the school
curriculum from the local board of education. If the parent/guardian requests
such information, the board must provide it since a district’s curriculum is a
matter of public record in accordance with N.J.S.A. 47:1A et seq. The
parent/guardian may be charged for the cost of copying documents in accordance
with the rates established by law, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(b).” This option may prove
to be an affordable solution for some families.
However,
it is up to the individual Board of Education to make determinations on the
provision of curriculum as follows:
“Curricular and Extracurricular – A board of education may, but is not required by
law to, allow a child educated elsewhere than at school to participate in
curricular and extracurricular activities or sports activities. Before deciding to do so,
however, a board of education may wish to consult with its attorney to consider
the full implications of such participation.
Textbooks – A
board of education may, but is under no obligation to, loan books or materials
to a child educated elsewhere than at school.”
Obtaining Related Services
Our
district was willing to offer speech and occupational therapy once a week at the school in
tandem, meaning the ST and OT would work together for 30 minutes. Some schools
provide itinerant services in the family home available if the school district
is willing to oblige. In this case, the school district contracts with service
providers as established in the Individualized Education Plan.
Medically Necessary?
A NJ
special education attorney advised that if it is medically necessary for your
child to stay home to be educated, then the school would have to provide the
special education teacher as well as the additional services in the home. The
special education attorney explained that a letter of medical necessity must be
provided by a medical doctor and renewed every 30 days. If this is met, then
the school district is obligated to provide the special education teacher and
services within the home.
Special Education Law in NJ
NJ Law on
the issue of Special Education Services states that “in
accordance with the federal special education law, Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (P.L. 108-446 §612), the board of education must
ensure that “all children with disabilities residing in the State, including
children with disabilities attending private schools, regardless of the severity
of the disability, and who are in need of special education and related
services, are identified, located and evaluated…”
NJ Law
continues, “When the public school district receives a written request for a
special education evaluation, the district must review the request and a
meeting ensues with the child study team, the parent/guardian and the
regular education teacher. This process also applies to children who are
educated at home. At the meeting, current information about the child is
reviewed to determine whether an evaluation is warranted. If an evaluation is
warranted, another determination will be made regarding the assessment
procedures. Written notice of the determinations is given to parent/guardian.
Once the assessments are completed, a meeting in accordance with N.J.A.C.
6A:14-2.3(i)1 is held to determine whether the child is eligible for special
education and related services.
If the child is eligible for special education and related services,
the public school district must provide a free, appropriate public education
only if the child enrolls in the district. If the child does not enroll in the
public school district, but the district chooses to provide services, the
district would develop a plan for the services to be provided.”
Keeping it Private
Our
family opted for full control over our son’s therapeutic and educational needs.
We were involved in multiple private therapies inclusive of speech,
occupational, and physical therapy on a weekly basis. In addition,
our son reaped benefits from therapeutic horseback riding, a social skills program and karate.
The homeschooling experience offered us the flexibility to weave in lessons
around the therapeutic schedule. We watched our beautiful butterfly soar higher
and higher.
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